William john tanner



J. TANNER.

(No Model.)

TRUCK.

Patented Aug. 30, 1887;

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the handles b b, the load placed on the platin the manner as shown in Fig. 3. The

be wheeled along the floor, as hereinafter men- WILLIAM JOHN TANNER, OF LONDON,

TRU

PATENT Orrrce.

COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,215, dated August 30, 1887.

Application filed May 18, 1887. Serial No. 239,706. (No model.) Patented in England October 14, 1865, No. 12,217.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM JOHN TAN- NER, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at London, county of Middlesex, England, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Carrying Luggage, Parcels, Goods, and Ohattels Up and Down Stairs, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 12,217, dated October 14, 1885,) of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that considerable difficulty is experienced in carrying heavyluggage, parcels, 850., up and downstairs in private houses, warehouses, hotels, schools, and the like. Now, the object of my invention is to lessen this difficulty, and for this purpose I construct an apparatus, as hereinafter described, which, when not in use, may be folded to economize space and to be stowed away.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of ,my apparatus open and ready to receive aload, and Fig. 2 a perspective view of the same closed ready for being stowed away. Fig. 3'shows the device in use.

This apparatus consists of a platform, A, of wood orof metal, or of a combination of wood and metal, on which the luggage,&c., is placed, and to one end of this platform I hinge an end piece,flap, or frame, B, which, when raised or set up, stands at an angle to the platform. To the other end of this platform I also hinge another endpiece, flap, or frame, 0, which likewise stands at an angle to the platform when raised or set up thereon. At or near one end of the platform A, I provide pivoted handles D D, and at or about the upper ends of the end pieces, flaps, or frames, B and O, I hinge or pivot other handles, b b c 0, so that when the platform isplaced level, as shown in Fig. 1, the handles 1) b will be higher than the handles D D. By this means a person lifting the apparatus by the handles D D, and another person at the same time lifting the apparatus by form can be easily carried up and down stairs handles 0 c are used when the apparatus is to tioned.

In order to keep the handles D D and the end piece, flap, or frame 0 in place when the apparatus is opened, I connect them together by hooked rods 0, or by a stay, cord, chain, or other similar attachment. For the purpose of distributing the weight and taking a part of the strain from the end piece, B, I secure to each side of the platform at g, and in connection with the handles 12 b, a cord, f, or achain, wire, stay, or the like, so that when these handles are raised a strain will be put on the cord and a direct pull obtained from the platform.

I further provide side pieces, EE, composed wholly or partially of leather, canvas, netting, webbing, cord, or any similar strong and flexible material, and made either in one piece or in several pieces, which may be wholly or partially attached to or detachable from the platform and end pieces, flaps, or frames. I also make them to extend or contract, in order to secure in place the load carried upon the platform.

Under the platform, and at one end thereof, I fit rollers, casters, or wheels h, for the purpose of allowing the apparatus to be rolled or wheeled along the floor to the stairs.

I keep the end piece, flap, or frame, B, in its place, and insure its rigidity when raised or open by means of stays connecting the end piece, flap, or frame with the platform across the angle formed by the platform and end piece, flap, or frame; or, according to an alternative method, which I prefer, the end of the bearingplates of the casters, wheels, or the like may be turned up at a right angle at the ends as, and a stay or arm, m, is screwed to each side of the end piece, flap, or frame B, so that when this end piece, flap, or frame B is raised the projecting part of the stay or arm abutsagaint the turned-up parts of the caster-bearings. A thumb-screw, n, or similar attachment, fastens each stay or arm to the turned-up ends of the caster'bearings. By these means the end piece, flap, or frame B is prevented from falling down when the apparatus is opened and in use.

In order to make the apparatus light and suitable for carrying grain and small articles, the platform and end pieces, flaps, or frames, Band 0, may be made of aframe-work of wood or metal, or of a combination of wood and metal, and the space inclosed by the framework may be wholly or partially filled with leather, canvas,webbing, netting, cord, or the 5 like.

I sometimes divide the platform in two portions, so that one portion of it may slide over or alongside the other portion, the divided portions being kept at the required extent apart by pins, belts, or the like. By this arrangement the platform can thus be extended. or reduced in length.

Having now described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A folding apparatus for carrying luggage, goods, parcels, or chattels up and down stairs, consisting of a platform, A, in combination with thejointed or pivoted end pieces, flaps, or frames,B and 0, provided, respectively, with the pivoted handles 1) Z) and c 0, said platform being likewise furnished with jointed or pivoted handles D D, and rollers or casters 71 together with means for securing the luggage, &c., in place, substantially as herein described.

2. lhe combination, with the platform A and end frames, B 0, provided, respectively, with handles 1) b c c, of the pivoted handles D D,

adapted to hang below the platform, and rods 0, for holding the pivoted handles in said hanging position for preserving the platform in a horizontalposition when ascending or descending stairs, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the platform A, end piece, flap, or frame, B, and handles 1) I), the cords f, or their equivalent, as and for the purposes specified.

4. The means herein described for keeping in place and insuring the rigidity of the end piece, flap, or frame, B, when raised or open, consisting in the stays or arms on, fixed to the end piece, frame, or flap, B, and adapted to abut against the angular piece of the bearings of the rollers, casters, or wheels h, said stays or arms being secured by thumb-screws or the like, as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of; two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM JOHN 'IANNER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES JAMES KEMP,

68 Fleet Sheet, Lon/ 011, E. C. GEO. J. B. FRANKLIN,

17 Gruccchurch Street, London, E. C. 

